WHAM-TV
Rochester, NY
September 22, 2010

Upstate/Albany/Rochester, NY - Mayor Bloomberg's endorsement of Cuomo for governor is expected to come Wednesday according to a Democratic Party source. Bloomberg didn't make an endorsement four years ago when he was a registered Republican--and has openly admitted that he doesn't think much of Republican Carl Paladino

Paladino is challenging Cuomo to a debate but so far Cuomo hasn't agreed to one.

Meanwhile, Republicans are calling on Rick Lazio who lost by a huge margin to Paladino in last week's primary--to end his campaign. Lazio continues to have the support of the Conservative Party and could run as its candidate in November

The Green Party's candidate, Howie Hawkins, wants Andrew Cuomo and Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy, who is running for Lt. Governor, to debate him on issues such as employment, single payer health care, a ban on hydrofracking and affordable housing. Hawkins says he also wants to target poverty which, he says, is especially bad in Rochester. He cited figures that show more than 40 percent of Rochester's children live in poverty.

But so far Cuomo has not agreed to a debate,even when cajoled by Paladino.

It's unclear if Mayor Duffy will meet with Hawkins today or not.